The 2nd Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") was an armored division of the United States Army. The division played important roles during World War II in the invasions of Germany, North Africa, and Sicily and in the liberation of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. During the Cold War, the division was primarily based at Fort Hood, Texas, and had a reinforced brigade forward stationed in Garlstedt, West Germany. After participation in the Persian Gulf War, the division was deactivated in 1995.

World War II

Initial organization The 2nd Armored Division was formed at Fort Benning, Georgia on 15 July 1940. Under the first system of American armored division organization

It was originally commanded by Major General Charles L. Scott, with Colonel George S. Patton Jr. in charge of training. Scott was promoted to command the I Armored Corps in November of that year, which put Patton, now a brigadier general, in command of the division. The division, which in February 1942 passed over to the command of Major General Willis D. Crittenberger, served with the First, Seventh, and Ninth Armies throughout the war.

In January 1942, the 2nd Armored Division was reorganized under the "heavy" armored division table of organization, which it maintained for the remainder of the war. The most major changes involved the disbandment of the 2nd Armored Brigade, the loss of the 68th Armored Regiment to the newly-formed 6th Armored Division, the reduction of the 14th Field Artillery Regiment to a battalion, and the addition of the 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion.Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). World War II Order of Battle. New York, New York: Galahad Books World War II Order of Battle p280, 290-91, 370, 398 Each of the division's two armored regiments contained two medium tank battalions and one light tank battalion, with each battalion consisting of three companies (18 tank companies total). Along with the 3rd Armored Division, it retained its organization throughout World War II–the 14 other U.S. armored divisions were reorganized as "light" armored divisions, having three tank battalions, each consisting of three medium tank companies and one light tank company (12 tank companies total). Both types had an infantry component of three mechanized battalions, although the heavy divisions maintained an "armored infantry regiment" organization.Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). World War II Order of Battle. New York, New York: Galahad Books World War II Order of Battle p15-20

The core units of the division were the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, the 66th Armored Regiment, the 67th Armored Regiment, the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and the 142nd Armored Signal Company. The 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was known as the "eyes and ears" of the 2nd Armored Division.

The 2nd Armored Division had three artillery battalions: (the 14th, 78th, and 92nd). The division also had support units, including the 2nd Ordnance Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Supply Battalion, the 48th Armored Medical Battalion, and a band and military police platoon. The military police and band were tasked with headquarters defense of base operations under the banner of the 502d Adjutant General Company (502d AG).

Opened front in North Africa

Elements of the division were among the first U.S. military to engage in offensive ground combat operations in the European and Mediterranean theater during World War II. The 2nd Armored Division, now commanded by Major General Ernest N. Harmon, served in North Africa along with the 1st Armored Division. They were part of the Western Task Force of Operation Torch, which landed at Casablanca in French Morocco on 8 November 1942. The remainder of Torch's American component were the 1st, 3rd, 9th and 34th Infantry Divisions. However, the 2nd Armored Division did not see much action in North Africa and instead remained in French North Africa on garrison and training duties. In April 1943 Major General Harmon relinquished command of the division to Major General Hugh Joseph Gaffey. Training in amphibious operations began in preparation for an amphibious landing at Sicily.

Operation Husky

As the reserve force of the Western Task Force of Operation Husky, codename for the Allied invasion of Sicily, the division landed on 10 July 1943, in support of the 1st Infantry Division at the Battle of Gela.La Monte, John L. & Lewis, Winston B. The Sicilian Campaign, July 10 – August 17, 1943 (1993) United States Government Printing Office pp.6&89 Afterwards, the division next went into action in the second landing at Licata, Sicily on 21 July following the 3rd Infantry Division's better-known earlier landing on 10 July. The 2nd Armored, operating closely with paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division, then fought through to the Sicilian capital of Palermo. Along the way the 2nd Armored Division captured thousands of Italian prisoners of war (POWs). The fighting in Sicily came to an end on 17 August, with the 2nd Armored Division having sustained relatively light casualties in the brief campaign, where it had gained its first Medal of Honor of World War II, belonging to Sergeant Gerry H. Kisters. During the campaign the division came under the command of the U.S. Seventh Army, under Lieutenant General George S. Patton, who had been a former commander of the division.

Soon afterwards the 2nd Armored Division was sent to England, in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy, and remained there until June 1944. In April the division received a new commander, Major General Edward H. Brooks, a decorated veteran of World War I, replacing Major General Gaffey.

Normandy invasion

The 2nd Armored Division landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy on 9 June 1944, three days after the initial Normandy landings, and operated in the Cotentin Peninsula, later forming the right flank of the Operation Cobra assault. The division encircled the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich and the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen around Roncey,Zaloga p.3 and destroyed most of their armored equipment. At La Chapelle, a 2nd SS Panzer column was attacked at point blank range by 2nd Armored Division artillery. Over the course of two hours American artillery fired over 700 rounds into the column. The Germans suffered the loss of 50 dead, 60 wounded and 197 taken prisoner; material losses included over 260 German combat vehicles destroyed.Zaloga p.67 Beyond the town, the 2nd Armored engaged another column, killing 1,150 German soldiers and destroying an additional 96 armored combat vehicles and trucks. The U.S. 2nd Armored Division destroyed 64 German tanks and 538 other German combat vehicles during Operation Cobra,Zaloga p.75 while itself losing 49 tanks. The 2nd Armored Division inflicted over 7,370 casualties on the Germans, while suffering 914 casualties of their own. This is approximately an eightfold disparity. The 2nd Armored blunted Operation Lüttich, the German counterattack on Avranches, then raced across France with the rest of the First Army, reaching the Albert Canal in Belgium on 8 September. On 18 September it crossed the German border near Sittard and took up defensive positions near Geilenkirchen. On 3 October, the division, now commanded again by Major General Harmon, launched an attack on the Siegfried Line from Marienberg (Übach-Palenberg), broke through, crossed the Wurm River, seized the town of Puffendorf on 16 November, and Barmen on 28 November.

Awards

Members of the division received 9,369 individual awards, including two Medals of Honor, twenty-three Distinguished Service Crosses, and 2,302 Silver Stars as well as nearly 6,000 Purple Hearts; among those receiving the Silver Star were Edward H. Brooks, Hugh Armagio, Stan Aniol, Staff Sergeant John J. Henry, William L. Giblin, Neil J. Garrison, Morton Eustis, son of William Corcoran Eustis, and Sgt Kenneth J. White. The division was twice cited by the Belgian government and division soldiers for the next 50 years wore the fourragere of the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

Division organization Initial division organization When the 2nd Armored Division was formed on 15 July 1940 it was composed of the following units:

2nd Armored Division Division Headquarters Headquarters Company, 2nd Armored Division 142nd Armored Signal Company 2nd Armored Brigade (formed by reorganizing the 7th Provisional Tank Brigade) Headquarters and Headquarters Company 66th Armored Regiment (Light) Headquarters and Headquarters Company Armored Reconnaissance Company (M3 scout cars) Armored Machine Gun Company (M2 half-track cars and M1919 .30-caliber machine guns) Service Company (Light) 3× Tank battalions (Light) each battalion consists of: 1× Headquarters and Headquarters Platoon, 3× tank companies with M3 Stuart light tanks 67th Armored Regiment (Medium) Headquarters and Headquarters Company Service Company (Medium) 2× Tank battalions (Medium) each battalion consists of: 1× Headquarters and Headquarters Platoon, 3× tank companies with M3 Lee medium tanks 68th Armored Regiment (Light) (transferred in February 1942 to the 6th Armored Division) same organization as 66th Armored Regiment (Light) 14th Armored Field Artillery Regiment Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 4× Field artillery batteries (24× M2 105mm towed howitzers) Ammunition Train Service Battery 41st Armored Infantry Regiment Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2× Armored infantry battalions each battalion consists of: 1× Headquarters and Headquarters Platoon, 3× Rifle companies on M3 half-tracks, and 1× Heavy Weapons Company with M3 37mm Anti-Tank guns and M4 mortar carriers Anti-Tank Company (M3 37mm Anti-Tank guns) Service Company 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 2× Armored reconnaissance companies (M3 scout cars) Light Tank Company (M3 Stuart light tanks) Armored Reconnaissance Rifle Company (M3 half-tracks) 78th Field Artillery Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 3× Field artillery batteries (12× M2 105mm towed howitzers) Anti-Tank Gun Battery (8× M1897 75mm anti-tank guns) Service Battery 17th Armored Engineer Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company 3× Armored engineer companies Bridge Company 14th Quartermaster Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company Quartermaster Truck Company Light Maintenance Quartermaster Company 17th Armored Ordnance Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2× Ordnance companies 48th Armored Medical Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment Medical Collecting Company Medical Clearing Company Division Surgeon's Office

Heavy armored division